The head of the cybercrimes division of the National Police of Panama, Major Vladimir González, stated in Telemetro Reporta that one must distrust everything the internet offers, as even cyberspace is not free from crime.
González mentioned that in San Miguelito, cases of rape, extortion, and deprivation of liberty have occurred, but it is possible that the victims are being trafficked. They are kidnapped and taken to another country, where they are forced into prostitution.
Additionally, people interested in employment can also become victims of criminals, as was the case with a criminal gang operating in San Miguelito that was recently dismantled. This group offered jobs to women but then sexually abused them and extorted them, threatening to release the recorded material on social networks.
"We are seeing a lot of 'WhatsApp hacking' which is subsequently used to scam the victim's contacts," González specified.
He also echoed the saying "he who pays the piper calls the tune," meaning that if you are the one acquiring a service or product, you should set the terms for the transaction.
"If you are going to meet, try to do so in a place of your choice, such as shopping centers with many people and surveillance cameras, or near a police station," he recommended.
"Criminals pressure their victims to act as quickly as possible, raising the level of urgency," he pointed out.
Theft of WhatsApp accounts is becoming more frequent every day, as are messages from the victims themselves warning that they are not asking for money due to any family emergency.
González indicated that criminals "no longer focus on selling cell phones or video game consoles; now they take advantage of any topic that can be profitable, such as cabin rentals, vacation package sales, DJ services, or florists."
"The risk is so high that we cannot trust all the information we receive from social networks, platforms, or the web," he reiterated.
Therefore, he recommended using a 'keyword' that is only 'identifiable to the family.'
González also noted that criminals are now using artificial intelligence to mimic a person's voice and call their relatives to deceive them.
"Decisions should not be made hastily," he concluded, adding that in his experience, it is better "to seek the guidance of another person" when making a decision under the pressure exerted by criminals.
